"Venom: The Last Dance, " the final installment in the Marvel trilogy starring Tom Hardy, fell short of expectations at the box office. While it grossed around $175 million worldwide, its $51 million domestic haul was a significant drop from previous entries. Industry experts predicted an opening around $70 million, but the film only managed half of that. The World Series did contribute to the lower numbers, but it's not enough to explain the full shortfall.

On the other hand, specialized films timed for awards season had a stronger showing. "Conclave" (Focus), a Vatican thriller, opened in 1, 753 theaters and surpassed its high-end estimate of $5 million to $6 million. "Anora" (Neon), with a per-theater average of over $25, 000 in just 34 theaters, is set to expand further. "We Live in Time" (A24), a romance starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, also performed well, tripling its theater count and bringing in $4. 8 million.

The box office needs better results, especially from big-name franchises like Marvel. "Venom" should still turn a profit with strong foreign results and a $120 million budget, but the domestic market is lagging. Specialized films are filling the gap, showing that smaller, critically acclaimed movies can still draw crowds.

The Marvel Movie Miss: Venom’s Last Dance Stumbles, Other Films Shine

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